Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
By Gene Guillot, The Times-Picayune
on December 13, 2015 at 7:01 PM, updated December 13, 2015 at 7:44 PM
The New Orleans Saints played their most complete game of the ...

By Gene Guillot, The Times-Picayune
on December 13, 2015 at 7:01 PM, updated December 13, 2015 at 7:44 PM
The New Orleans Saints played their most complete game of the season in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday, ending their four-game losing streak with a 24-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With three games remaining in the regular season, the big question is: Does this team still have a shot at making the postseason?

There's still a chance.

For the Saints to make the playoffs:
The Saints must beat Lions (4-9) in a nationally-televised "Monday Night Football" game Dec. 21 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the visiting Jaguars (5-8) on Dec. 27 and NFC South rival Falcons (6-7) on the road (Jan. 3).

The Vikings (8-5) must lose to the Bears (5-8), Giants (5-7) and Packers (9-4).

The Bucs (6-7) play the Rams (4-9), Bears (5-8) and Panthers (13-0). If they beat the Panthers, they must lose the other two. If they lose to the Panthers, they only have to lose one of the others. If they lose to the Rams and Bears, the Panthers game doesn't matter.

The Rams must lose once. They play the Bucs, Seahawks (8-5) and 49ers (4-9).

Then there's the NFC East, involving the Giants, Eagles (6-7) and Redskins (6-7). If two of those teams end up 9-7, the Saints are out. If the second-place team is 7-9, the Saints are in. If the second place team is 8-8, and so are the Saints, the Saints win a tiebreaker with the Giants but lose the tiebreaker to the Eagles and Redskins.

The Saints could very well run the table rest of the way, but I don't see the Vikings dropping all three (Bears, Giants, Packers), and probably only one. Bucs'll go two-outta'-three, the Rams will lose at least once and roll the dice on the NFC East, .

The Saints could very well run the table rest of the way, but I don't see the Vikings dropping all three (Bears, Giants, Packers), and probably only one. Bucs'll go two-outta'-three, the Rams will lose at least once and roll the dice on the NFC East, .

Yeah it's not as convoluted of a scenario as would typically be expected for a 5-8 team talking about making the wildcard. Most of the things that need to happen around the Saints are more than possible, and even likely to happen. But the Vikings needing to lose all three is where it goes back to normal. Not much chance of that happening, even though they're struggling a little. They haven't tanked like Atlanta. And I've learned my lesson about thinking the Saints have turned a corner after a win.